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Friday, July 13, 2012

America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, and Home of the Unhealthy

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”Robert Kennedy

This often quoted statement is very applicable to today’s conundrum of providing health care to all American’s

“Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.”

“I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.”Robert Kennedy

These quotes from R.F.K. ring in the ears of those who knew the man in the 1960s. It was true then as Americans traversed the world of civil rights and inequality.

Today we also have marked inequalities in health care, some due to inherent systemic flaws, some due to our present economic morass, and some due to an obsolete medical bureaucracy.

Healthcare is in a state of flux, not from medical advances, although rapid progress is continuing in genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and all the other ‘ics”. but in how we fund health and wellness, along with treating chronic illnesses. Some illness is acute and brief, some develops from acute illness followed by prolonged chronic illness, and/or disability. Along with these economic demands and included in chronic illnesses is prevention of disability and ongoing rehabilitation.

Loss of employability contributes great dependency and further economic stress on our economy. It frequently severs the ability to earn income.

Important items missing from PPACA are tort reform and re-organizing medico-legal adversity.

Republicans and Democrats need to step back and look at the goals for health care in America. This is a non-partisan issue, however self-interest and fear of economic failure dominate the process, not just for individuals, but industry as well.

Disclaimer

The opinions in this blog or other forms of social media are solely that of Gary M. Levin M.D. Dr. Levin has no financial interests in any medical devices which are discussed or which appear in the blog. Commentary taken from other sources are either quoted or referenced with attribution. Dr Levin does not endorse, nor give financial support to any political organizations.